Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-06
For the YorkviIle Enquirer.
n C0IINTY VOTE.

I learn that a meeting of a few citizens
of Yorkville was held to-day to oppose an
issue of county bonds, in place of the town.
ship bonds voted to the Charleston, Gin
cinnati and Chicago Railroad Company,
and an issue of bonds to aid in building
the Augusta and Charlotte division of the
same railroad.
1t does seem to a plain farmer that this
matter should be looked at from a business
standpointa and without feeling, This rail-
road will be the most important in the
South, running from the great grain re-
gions of the West, through the wonderful
coal and iron beds of the mountains, to the
sea, and bringing to the York county farm
er, from the cheapest market, everything
he buys, and carrying to the best market
ali he makes.
It will be wise in the people of York
county to be on the best terms with the
company, especially as so many sections
are offering strong financial inducements
to draw it away from York county. Now,
county bonds will be of more good to the
company than township bonds, and will
cost the citizens no more. They should
be given.
There can be no injustice in the matter.
The road is not a mere local line, but one
of even national importance. Such a road
in the county will benefit every part OF it,
and every man in it. Every acre will be
worth more, every pound of merchandise
will cost less, and every bale of cotton
will make a greater return to the county.
All sections will be benefited. OF course,
some sections will be built up more than
some otherssSSRut, in that case, their pro,
portion Of taxes, NOT only for the railroad
debt, but for all purposes, will be increased,
and that of other sections will be reduced,
so that this will work out even. The tax
rate to all will be less, because property
will be increased, while expenses will re-
main the same. The burden will not be
changed, but there will be more should
ers to carry it. Even the money spent for
the railroad will add to the taxable value
of the property of the county and remain
there.
Those sections of the county on railroads
already built will receive an especial ben
eft, even if the new road does not touch
them. Because competition will cause
their roads to come down in rates and i'm
prove in methods.
One more point as to taxation. The
main line of the road will be nearly sixty
miles long in the county, while the Angus
ia and Charlotte division will be perhaps
from twenty to thirty. This alone will be
an immense amount of property for taxa
ton for all time, and the taxes will 60 to the
county and not to the townships. There
is no doubt that great developments will
follow the road. Already two large cotton
factories are being built on the small part
of the road now in operation and other
factories are to follow. The property of
Cherokee has nearly doubled since the
railroad came to it. These things will
happen to all York. The taxes on all this,
as we'll as on the railroad, itself, will for
ever 60 to the whole county, mo- to the
townships. Should not the whole county
pay for such a great benefit?
AS to the Augusta and Charlotte divis-
ion, it will be as important as the southern
end of the main line. We want it. We
want competition, not only between rail-
roads, but between cities, for u trade.
This division and the main line would put
all the great Southern cities in competi-
ton. Gaffney City and Shelby want the
division, and Lancaster wants a road to
Charlotte. All offer to pay for it. If we
vote the county bonds, we will get it. 49,.
Then let US do 80, Great benefit will
come to the whole county, rather than
merely to some townships. No injustice
will be done and the investment will bring
immense returns. If we fail to make it,
other townships may profit by our neglect.
A COUNTRYMAN.
.JuIv 4. 1897.